Yarn catcher

ABSTRACT

A yarn catcher for a stop motion device used with knitting machines and the like, the stop motion device including a fly wire which carries the yarn into the yarn catcher when the yarn breaks. The yarn catcher comprises a bracket with a flange member attached to the stop motion device and an extending plate portion which is provided with an aperture through which the yarn passes and further is provided with a pair of leaf spring members being maintained in flexion against one another with the yarn being carried by the fly wire between the leaf spring members to be held thereby, and a cover plate member of a generally U-shape having leg members which sandwich the extending plate portion between respective opposite surfaces and selectively mask a portion of the aperture and guide the yarn between the leaf spring members when the yarn breaks.

Jan. 2, 1973 YARN CATCHER Inventor: George J. Matzel, Rego Park, NY.

Stop-Motion Devices Corporation, Plainview, NY.

May 3, 1971 Assignee:

Filed:

Appl. No.:

US. Cl ..66/125 R, 28/68, 66/163 Int. Cl. ..D04b 15/48, D04b 35/14 Field of Search ..66/158, 163, 161, I62, 159, 66/160, 164, 125 R; 242/125; 28/68, 71, 70; 139/353; 57/107 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1891 Sharf '2 1939 Wachsman ..66/163 11/1944 Tellerman ..66/163 2/1961 Kresslein ..242/125 R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 7,367 1911 Great Britain ..57/107 Primary Examiner-Wm. Carter Reynolds Attorney-Henry R. Lerner [5 ABSTRACT A yarn catcher for a stop motion device used with knitting machines and the like, the stop motion device including a fly wire which carries the yarn into the yarn catcher when the yarn breaks. The yarn catcher comprises a bracket with a flange member attached to the stop motion device and an extending plate portion which is provided with an aperture through which the yarn passes and further is provided with a pair of leaf spring members being maintained in flexion against one another with the yarn being carried by the fly wire between the leaf spring members to be held thereby, and a cover plate member of a generally U-shape having leg members which sandwich the extending plate portion between respective opposite surfaces and selectively mask a portion of the aperture and guide the yarn between the leaf spring members when the yarn breaks.

12 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures 1 YARN CATciiER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a yarn catcher, and more particularly, to a yarn catcher used with stop motion devices in knitting machines and the like.

Modern knitting machines generally include a large number of needles through which a corresponding large number of yarns are simultaneously fed. The yarn is monitored by suitable stop motion devices, and when one of the individual yarn breaks, the tension condition sensed in the stop motion device terminates the operation of the machine. For the purposes of this invention and this application, the detecting mechanism which monitors and detects the broken yarn will be hereinafter referred to as a stop motion device. It will be understood that in the conventional knitting machine, such stop motion devices are installed in suitable relation to the yarns which are fed through the machine.

Such stop motions generally consist of a yarn sensing device which is in operative relation with respect to the yarn such that when the yarn tension exceeds a permissible range, the sensing device is operative to cause the completion of an electrical circuit which interrupts the drive motor for the knitting machine. The stop motion device generally comprises a fly wire through which. the yarn is passed, and when the yarn breaks, the fly wire which is maintained in a normally flexed position releases causing the above described interruption of the drive motor. As can be readily appreciated, with a large number of yarns being simultaneously fed, the breakage of a single yarn can be problematic, unless the yarn is caught as it breaks to prevent the yarn from interfering with the proper functioning of the knitting machine and to easily retrieve the broken yarn to be rethreaded through the needle.

Prior art yarn catchers which are provided and attached to the stop motion device generally have attendant and significant disadvantages and problems. For instance, lint, dust and other foreign matter frequently are caught in the means which is used to catch the yarn, and thereby interferes with the proper functioning of the yarn catcher. In addition, where springs are used in prior art yarn catchers, these are welded or cemented into the catcher which. further serves to accumulate dirt, lint and other foreign matter. In addition, the springs in the prior art yarn catchers frequently become dislodged upon a shock or impact force, which clearly interferes with the proper functioning of the yarn catcher. I

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An objectof this in ention isto provide an improved yarn catching device which prevents the accumulation In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the above objects are accomplished by providing a yarn catcher for a stop motion device which includes a fly wire, the fly wire carrying the yarn into the -yarn catcher when the yarn breaks, the yarn catcher comprising a bracket having a flange member which is attached to the stop motion device and an extending plate portion, the extending plate portion being provided with an aperture through which the yarn passes and retaining means which hold a pair of leaf spring members under flexion against each other with the yarn being carried by the fly wire between the leaf spring members to be held thereby and a cover plate member of a generally U-shape having leg members, the extending plate portion being sandwiched between opposing surfaces of respective leg members with the cover plate member selectively masking a portion of the aperture and guiding the yarn between the leaf spring members when the yarn breaks.

As can be readily appreciated, with the springs being held in flexion and retained in place by means of the cover plate, the springs may be easily and quickly replaced upon removal of the cover plate. Further, the cover plate, which may be resilient, prevents line and other foreign matter from being caught between the springs due to the selective masking feature thereof, and therefore, there is no interference with the proper operation of the yarn catcher.

The aperture and cover plate member are shaped so as to guide the broken yarn between the spring members, thereby holding the broken yarn so that it may be easily retrieved, and the machine thereafter set to properly operate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of the assembled yarn catcher ofthis invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the yarn catcher of this invention being attached to a conventional stop motion device;

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the extending plate portion and cover plate member of the yarn catcher of this invention;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the extending plate portion being fit between the legs of the U-shaped cover plate member;

FIG. 5 is an end view of the assembled yarn catcher of this invention; 1

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken generally along line 7-7 of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 2, there is shown a stop motion 10 which is provided with a mounting bracket 12' and a housing 14 in which an electrical switch is contained. The housing 14 is generally rectangular in shape and attached to the top thereof by means of ascrew 16 is "a guide arm 18, its distal end 20 projecting beyond the front edge 22 of the housing 14. The distal end 20 of guide arm 18 is provided with an aperture into which a ceramic eyelet guide means 24 is inserted to provide a relatively friction-free guide for the yarn 26 passing therethrough.

A forwardly extending arm 28 is attached to the housing 14 and terminates in a bend at the distal end 30 which is provided with an aperture and ceramic eyelet guide means 32 through which the yarn passes when the knitting machine is operating correctly. An additional eyelet 34, provided in a bracket plate 36, is interposed between the distal end 30 of the extension arm 28 and the housing 14. The eyelets 32 and 34 are maintained in axial alignment and disposed therebetween is the yarn catcher 38 of this invention.

A fly wire 40 is pivotally connected to the housing 14 and is provided with an eyelet 42. The fly wire controls a switch within the housing 14 which, in turn, controls the operation of the machine. As shown by dotted lines, the fly wire 40 is normally in a down position with the yarn 26 passing through eyelets 24 and 34, aperture 44 in the yarn catcher 38, and eyelets 42 and 32. When the yarn breaks, it is carried or jerked upwardly by means of an elbow segment 46 of the fly wire into the yarn catcher 38. The broken yarn will thus be held in position and may be easily retrieved to enable the yarn thereafter to be threaded properly through the machine.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view of the yarn catcher of this invention which comprises a bracket 48 having a flange member 50 which is secured to the extension arm 28 by means of screws 52. An extending plate portion 54 is perpendicularly oriented with respect to the motion of the yarn through aperture 44 so that the lower portion of the aperture is axially aligned with eyelet guides 32 and 34. A cover plate member 56 is provided and is generally U-shaped for sandwiching the plate portion 54 between opposing surfaces 86 and 88 of leg members 76 and 78, respectively, of the cover plate member 56.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 3, there is shown an exploded perspective view of the extending plate portion 54 and the cover plate member 56. The aperture 44 is provided in the extending plate portion 54 with the bottom portion 58 of the aperture 44 being semi-circular in shape and being co-axial with guides 32 and 34. At the diametrical section of the bottom portion 58, the aperture 44 is formed by vertically extending flank sections 60 extending upwardly and obliquely towards each other. The flanks form a smooth surface the function of which will be described hereinafter. A pair of downwardly extending slits or slots 62-62 are provided in extending plate portion 54 which serve to anchor the bottom portions of a pair of respective leaf spring members 64 and 66. The top of aperture 44 terminates in oppositely disposed shoulders 68 and 70 which themselves terminate in respective slits or slots 72 and 74, by which the upper ends of leaf spring members 64 and 66 are anchored.

The two leaf spring members 64 and 66 are normally maintained in flexion and bear against each other so as to enable the broken yarn to be caught therebetween and held thereby. As may be readily apparent from FIG. 2, the elbow 46 of the fly wire 40 catches the broken yarn and jerks it upwardly between the springs 64 and 66 to enable the broken yarn to be easily retrieved.

As a feature of this invention, the cover plate member 56 is generally of a U-shape and is provided with leg members 76 and 78 and a base portion 80. The extending plate portion 54 fits between the leg members 76 and 78 with the cover plate member 56 being securely held thereon. The leg members of the cover plate member are provided with aligned slots 82, which widen towards the free ends of the legs 76 and 78 along an arcuate path. The slots terminate near the base 80 of the U-shaped cover plate member. When this latter member is placed over the extending plate portion 54, the slot 82 selectively masks a portion of the aperture 44 in the extending plate portion to guide the broken yarn inbetween the leaf spring members 64 and 66.

The leg portions 76 and 78 of the U-shaped cover plate member 56 may be seen as in FIGS. 1 and 4 to form a substantially smooth continuous surface between the flanks 60 of the extending plate portion 54 to the leaf spring members 64 and 66 to ensure that the broken yarn is accurately guided therebetween.

With reference to FIGS. 5 through 7, there is shown the cover plate member 56 being fixedly attached to the extending plate portion 54 by means of rivets 84 or the like, which attachment means ensures that the cover plate member cannot be dislodged from the extending plate portion upon shock or impact force being experienced by the knitting machine. In this manner, the leaf spring members 64 and 66 are rigidly and securely held in place, and their replacement may be easily accomplished by removing the cover plate member 56 from the extending plate portion 54 to permit access to the leaf spring members.

As may be seen from the above, there is provided hereby a yarn catcher which enables the broken yarn to be held between a pair of flexed leaf spring members 64 and 66, which enables the broken yarn to be easily retrieved. Upo'n such retrieval, the yarn may again be threaded through an appropriate needle, and the operation of the knitting machine may again be commenced.

While there is herein shown and described the preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise than as herein specifically illustrated or described, and that in the illustrated embodiments certain changes in the details of construction and in the form and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the underlying idea or principles of this invention within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A yarn catcher comprising an extending plate portion including spring retaining means and an aperture through which yarn passes, a pair of leaf spring members supported in said retaining means and being maintained against each other under flexion for holding into said aperture a broken yarn end jerked upwardly; and a cover plate of a generally U-shape having leg and base members, said extending plate portion being sandwiched between opposing surfaces of said leg members preventing foreign matter from accumulating between said leaf spring members.

2. A yarn catcher as set forth in claim 1, comprising guide means for guiding the yarn between said leaf spring members whereby the broken yarn is urged into the yarn catcher.

3. A yarn catcher as set forth in claim 2, wherein said guide means includes said cover plate member, said cover plate member selectively masking said aperture of said extending plate portion.

4. A yarn catcher as set forth in claim 3, wherein said cover plate member is riveted to said extending plate portion.

5. A yarn catcher as set forth in claim 1, wherein said yarn catcher is located between two axially aligned eyelet guide means, said aperture having a lower por tion axially aligned with said two eyelet guide means.

6. A yarn catcher as set forth in claim 5, wherein the lower portion of said aperture is circular in shape.

7. A yarn catcher as set forth in claim 1, wherein said retaining means are formed in said extending plate portion, said retaining means comprising a pair of upper and lower slots, respective ones of said pair of leaf spring members being held in respective ones of said pair of upper and lower slots.

8. A yarn catcher as set forth in claim 7, wherein said leaf spring members have upper and lower ends which are fit into respective upper and lower slots.

9. A yarn catcher as set forth in claim 1, wherein said cover plate member is provided with a slot being wider at the free ends of said leg members and narrowing towards said base member.

10. A yarn catcher as set forth in claim 9, wherein said slot of said cover plate member forms a substantially continuous guide path with said aperture of said extending plate portion guiding the broken yarn between said leaf spring members.

11. A yarn catcher as set forth in claim 1, comprising means for attaching said yarn catcher to a stop motion device including a fly wire, said fly wire carrying the yarn into said yarn catcher when the yarn breaks.

12. In combination, a stop motion including a fly wire carrying yarn and being normally biased to close a switch for controlling the drive of a knitting machine, an extending arm attached to said stop motion, and a yarn catcher attached to said extending arm, said yarn catcher comprising an extending plate portion including spring retaining means and an aperture through which said yarn passes, a pair of leaf spring members supported in said retaining means and being maintained under flexion for holding into said aperture a broken yarn jerked upwardly by said fly wire, and a cover plate member of a generally U-shape having leg and base members, said extending plate portion being sandwiched between opposing surfaces of said leg members preventing foreign matter from'accumulating between said leaf spring members. 

1. A yarn catcher comprising an extending plate portion including spring retaining means and an aperture through which yarn passes, a pair of leaf spring members supported in said retaining means and being maintained against each other under flexion for holding into said aperture a broken yarn end jerked upwardly; and a cover plate of a generally U-shape having leg and base members, said extending plate portion being sandwiched between opposing surfaces of said leg members preventing foreign matter from accumulating between said leaf spring members.
 2. A yarn catcher as set forth in claim 1, comprising guide means for guiding the yarn between said leaf spring members whereby the broken yarn is urged into the yarn catcher.
 3. A yarn catcher as set forth in claim 2, wherein said guide means includes said cover plate member, said cover plate member selectively masking said aperture of said extending plate portion.
 4. A yarn catcher as set forth in claim 3, wherein said cover plate member is riveted to said extending plate portion.
 5. A yarn catcher as set forth in claim 1, wherein said yarn catcher is located between two axially aligned eyelet guide means, said aperture having a lower portion axially aligned with said two eyelet guide means.
 6. A yarn catcher as set forth in claim 5, wherein the lower portion of said aperture is circular in shape.
 7. A yarn catcher as set forth in claim 1, wherein said retaining means are formed in said extending plate portion, said retaining means comprising a pair of upper and lower slots, respective ones of said pair of leaf spring members being held in respective ones of said pair of upper and lower slots.
 8. A yarn catcher as set forth in claim 7, wherein said leaf spring members have upper and lower ends which are fit into respective upper and lower slots.
 9. A yarn catcher as set forth in claim 1, wherein said cover plate member is provided with a slot being wider at the free ends of said leg members and narrowing towards said base member.
 10. A yarn catcher as set forth in claim 9, wherein said slot of said cover plate member forms a substantially continuous guide path with said aperture of said extending plate portion guiding the broken yarn between said leaf spring members.
 11. A yarn catcher as set forth in claim 1, comprising means for attaching said yarn catcher to a stop motion device including a fly wire, said fly wire carrying the yarn into said yarn catcher when the yarn breaks.
 12. In combination, a stop motion including a fly wire carrying yarn and beinG normally biased to close a switch for controlling the drive of a knitting machine, an extending arm attached to said stop motion, and a yarn catcher attached to said extending arm, said yarn catcher comprising an extending plate portion including spring retaining means and an aperture through which said yarn passes, a pair of leaf spring members supported in said retaining means and being maintained under flexion for holding into said aperture a broken yarn jerked upwardly by said fly wire, and a cover plate member of a generally U-shape having leg and base members, said extending plate portion being sandwiched between opposing surfaces of said leg members preventing foreign matter from accumulating between said leaf spring members. 